Sunshade



Sept. 12, 1950 M. ADAMS 2,521,768

SUNSHADE Filed Oct. 1, 1945 I IN VEN TOR. Mao/y 4404440 bYZ/IVZHM A 77' ORA/E Y Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT owner:v

'SUNSHADE Marjory Adams,,Laguna Beach, Calif.

Application October 1, 1945, SerialaNo. 619,469

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a sunshadev or shelter and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, efi'ective, practical device useful on beaches, lawns, and like locations, to afford shade or shelter.

There are numerous situations where sun shades or shelters are desired. For example, on beaches, lawns, sun decks, etc. it is often desired to provide a shelter either against sun or wind, or both. Various tent-like structures have been proposed and in some cases are used in such situations but they are, for the most part, complicated and cumbersome to the point that they are inconvenient and impractical.

It is a general object f this invention to provide a device which is an effective shade or shelter and which is extremely simple of manufacture and use. The device of the present invention involves few simple parts easy to make and'very simple to manipulate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to which can be advantageously used in a number of different positions or in a number of different ways, depending upon the wishes of the user. The device of the present invention can be used as a simple sun shade to be overhead, or it can be used to extend upwardly from the ground to shield against sun or wind, or both. In general the device of the present invention can be used at various angles, depending upon the conditions, and it is therefore extremely practical and effective.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to involving but few parts: which can be assembled quickly and without confusion: and which can be handled or transported in a simple package or rolled form so that it is compact and very easy to move about,

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the 4 is a view of one of the posts of the structure. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken as indicated by line 55 onFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of one of the cross arms of the structure. Fig. '7 is an enlarged view of the portion of the cross arm, being an enlarged view taken as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2"but showing the structure arranged in a somewhat diiierent position and illustrating a variation the manner of using the structure. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a variation in. use of the structure. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed sectional; view taken as indicated by line Ill-l0 on Fig. 3. Fig, 11 is a view showing the structure packed or in the form of a bundle so it can be readily transported, and Fig. 12. is a view showing a mounting'means thatma-y be used as a post support.

The device of the present. invention. involves, generally, a frame and a body or panel of material such as a sheet of fabric, or the like. The frame includes, generally, twoposts is and cross arms H carried by the posts.

Each post H! is preferably a simple, straight length of suitable material such as wood, pro.- vided near its upper end with a transverse notch i2 and having its lower end portion l3 pointed. or sharpened to readily enter sand or soil. If desired, a mounting spike l3 may be used. .to enter theground and the spike may have sockets lii to receive and hold the lower end portion of the post. The post is. provided with a lateral projection M at a point a short distance above the sharpened end portion l3 which projection may be provided by applying or securing a bracket to tlie'side-of the post and the projection is preferably of such size and extentv as to present apart that can be conveniently engaged by the foot of the user'to' facilitate pressing the pointed end-is of thepost into sand or earth. Near the upper end; portion of the postbut below .the notch I 2' and preferably at the side of the post opposite the notch, I. provide a socket L5 in the post. I preferably pitch the socket to'extendslightly upward so that it will receive and hold a: pin la in a manner to form a convenient holder for towels, etc., various articles of wearing apparel, etc. Thepin; l 8- may be a simple round length of wood or the" like; and in practiceit is preferably con. nected. to the: post by a short length of: cord I! so that itdoes not become lost or separated from the post but when the device is stored, as shown in Fig. 10,. the pin: is allowed tolie parallel with the post. I

There is a cross arm I i for each-pestle and.

the cross arm is preferably a straight length of suitable material such as wood shaped and proportioned to be received and held in the notch l2 of the post. In the preferred arrangement the cross arm is applied to the post to project an equal distance from either side thereof and I provide spaced stops 38 on the cross arm to engage the sides of the post to prevent slipping of the post lengthwise of the notch 12. The outer ends of the cross arm are made to receive or hold the panel, for instance, in practice I provide suitable openings 3! through the outer end portions of the cross arm.

In accordance with my invention I provide means for retainin the cross arm in connection with the post and I preferably employ a simple pivotally connected latch 32 for this purpose. The latch may be a simple metal latch or wooden latch and it may be carried on a pivot pin 33 carried by the post adjacent the notch l2. When the latch is turned in a transverse position as shown in Fig. 4 the cross arm can be freely arranged in or removed from the notch, but when the latch is lengthwise of the post it retains the cross arm in the notch. Further, in practice I preferably secure one or more ties 40, formed by lengths of cord or tape, to the panel '50 at each of the openings 66. The ties at each opening 60 may be employed to tie one of the cross arms under the projection M on the post Ill at the left in Fig. 9 when the structure is being used, as shown in Fig. 9, and these ties may also be employed to secure the structure in a rolled condition as shown in Fig. 10.

-The panel element of the structure includes a main section or panel 50 which is substantially rectangular in shape and is preferably formed of a material such as fabric. In practice I can use materials such as are commonly employed in umbrellas, awnings, or tents, etc. The main panel 50 is defined by longitudinal or side edges and transverse or end edges 52. Tabs or flap portions 53 may continue from the edges of the main panel 50 and, in practice, the edge 54 of such flaps can be out to be ornamental and may even be provided with a flange 55, as shown in the drawings. Flaps, when employed, may be integrally joined to the main panel or may be attached by suitable releasable fasteners. In the drawings I have shown flaps at the ends of the panel, however, it is to be understood that suitable flaps can be provided on or applied to any or all of the edges of the main panel.

In accordance with my invention lengths or strips 5? of material are secured transversely of the panel 59 at the ends thereof, as by stitching 55 and these strips cooperate with the material of the panel to form channels 58 to slidably receive the cross bars II. Intermediate the side edges 5! of the structure just described, preferably halfway between the side edges 5|, the structure of the panel is formed with openings 60 which intersect the channels formed by the strips 5? so that the upper end portions of the posts H! are free to pass up through the panels to the points where they receive and hold the cross arms.

In practice I provide suitable means for preventing slippage of the panel construction on the cross arms, for instance, I may provide tapes or tie strings 6| at the corners or the panel 50 so that theyoccur at the ends of the strips 51 and these tie strings can be engaged in the holes 3! in the end portions of the cross arms to secure the panel in place onthe cross arms.

In using the construction that I have provided the cross arms are applied to the panel construction and may be permanently tied in place in connection with the panel construction through the ties 5!. When the device is to be used as a. simple overhead sun shade or shelter the posts It! can be applied to the sand or soil, as the case may be, to extend upright as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the panel can be stretched between the posts by applying the cross arms to the posts so that the cross arms are held in the notches (2 with the stops at opposite sides of the posts, and with the upper end portions of the posts projecting above the panel. The latches 32 are operated to retain the cross arms in the notches. It is to be understood that the projections it can be engaged to facilitate application of the posts to the ground or sand and that the pins Hi can be arranged in place if it is desired to hang articles under the shelter. Further, it will be apparent that the posts need not be arranged in an upright position but can be arranged in various positions one of which is illustrated in Fig. 8. By arranging the posts at ven more of an angle than is shown in Fig. 8 one edge 5| of the panel may be brought into engagement with the ground and in this position forms a very effective shelter against wind.

Another use of the construction involves the application of one of the cross arms to the notch of one post, for instance, the post at the right in Fig. 10, while the other cross arm is secured to the post at a point near the ground, for instance, immediately under the projection M to the post at the left in Fig. 9. In this case the post at the left extends upright into the air while the panel extends upwardly at an angle from the ground to the upper end portion of the other post. The flap at the ground end effectively seals against drafts while the flap 53 at the upper or right end hangs down to be ornamental.

When the device is not desired for use, or when it is to be transported, it is a very simple matter to detach the posts from the cross arms and then roll the entire structure or assembly together in the manner shown in Fig. 11, in which position it can be tied by one of the ties 40.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A structure of the character described including a frame involving two posts and a cross arm carried by each post at the upper end portion thereof, a panel of fabric carried by and between the cross arms, the panel being formed with channels extending transversely at its ends resolving the cross arms, and ties attached to the panel and located to tie the panel to the end portions of the cross arms and to the upper end portions of the posts.

2. A structure of the character described including two posts, a cross arm carried b each post at the upper end portion thereof, a panel of fabric carried by and between. the cross arms. the panel being formed at its ends with channels receiving the cross arms and with openings passing the upper ends of the posts, and having flaps beyond the ends of the panel, and ties carried by the panel securing it to the ends of the arms and to the upper end portions of the posts.

3. A structure of the character described ineluding two posts, a cross arm carried by each post, and a panel of fabric carried by and between the cross arms, each cross arm having an opening near each end and the panel having ties received in the openings.

4. A structure of the character described including two posts each with a transverse notch near its upper end, a cross arm engaged in each notch, means retaining the cross arms in the notches, and a fabric panel carried by and between the cross arms, the panel having channels carrying the arms and having flaps depending from the channels at the outer sides of the posts.

5. A structure of the character described including, two posts each with a transverse notch near its upper end, a cross arm engaged in each notch, means releasably retaining the arms in the notches, and a fabric panel carried by and between the arms, the panel having channels at opposite edge portions and in which the arms are received and having openings passing the posts.

6. A structure of the character described including, a frame involving two posts each with a notch near its upper end, a cross arm engaged in each notch, the arms having parts engaging the posts to check longitudinal shifting of the arms REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,128 Lindblom Aug. 11, 1885 326,849 Cole Sept. 22, 1885 544,215 Deville Aug. 6, 1895 1,100,608 Palmer June 16, 1914 1,335,332 Hackfield Mar. 30, 1920 1,748,932 Medart Feb. 25, 1930 2,023,155 Turner Dec. 3, 1935 

